7 things to know before you start your day

1. Friends and families of murder victims will gather from 6 to 8 p.m. in Martin Luther King Park at Fillmore Avenue and Best Street to remember those they have lost. The candlelight observance will be one of many vigils held across the country tonight for the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. In Buffalo, it's hosted by PEACE (Parents Encouraging Accountability and Closure for Everyone) and PeacePrints Ministries.

2. One of the major shows of the season at Shea's Performing Arts Center opens tonight. It's "Billy Elliot," the Broadway smash musical about a boy from the English coal-mining country who develops a fascination with ballet. Dance is the center of the piece, but having music by Elton John is another reason to attend. It opens an eight-show run at 7:30 to mark the start of Shea's 25th season of presenting Broadway plays.3. The YWCA of Niagara will honor the work of women during its annual "A Tribute to Women" awards ceremony tonight in Conference Center Niagara Falls. Thirty women have been nominated for seven awards in categories that range from public service to education. The YWCA also will honor Carrie Mitchell, a retired Niagara Falls teacher, with a lifetime achievement award for her volunteer work in Niagara County. Mitchell's motto: "Give to the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you."4. Thirteen Twitter users will get a tour of Ralph Wilson Stadium tonight with wide receiver Stevie Johnson. They are the winners of a Northtown Automotive contest that challenged Twitter followers to explain why they deserved the chance to meet Stevie at The Ralph. Among the winners is Bills fan @kellym_bates, who tweeted that hanging with Stevie Johnson "would be a dream come true" and would probably be "the greatest thing ever."

5. Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper has invited stakeholders to discuss the ecological health of the Niagara River Greenway from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Niagara Falls Public Library, 1425 Main St. The discussion will contribute to the development of the Niagara River Greenway Habitat Conservation Strategy, which will identify, evaluate and map strategic restoration sites in the Greenway portion of the Niagara River watershed.

6. Voters in Niagara Falls will decide whether the school district should go ahead with a $67 million capital improvement project that will address a number of building needs throughout the district, including increased security, changes to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, upgrades to improve energy efficiency, adding new turf on athletic fields and other renovation work. The projects will be paid for with state funding and Greenway money. Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m.

7. It's National Voter Registration Day, and to mark the occasion, three community organizations will board buses in Erie and Niagara counties to register transit riders to vote. Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope, VOICE-Buffalo and the Lockport 201 Coalition hope to engage more than 500 riders during a three-hour period. The organizations, which are concerned about potential changes to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's 201 route in Lockport, also plan to meet with Niagara County Legislature Chairman William Ross to discuss funding for NFTA bus services.